As the week whirled on by Jack had made sure he wasn't seen at the school by anyone. For a matter of fact he was having Daniel take Xantheia to school and picking her up every afternoon. Emily wasn't impressed that another man was bringing the little girl to school, and was wondering what happened to Jack. So she started calling hospitals in the area, to find out if a Sam, or Samantha Carter had been admitted at any time in the past month.
When all were saying no, she sighed and hung up her phone for the umpteenth time. Then suddenly it hit her. He was military, and he said 'Carter' was his 2IC! Quickly grabbing the directory, she called the military hospital.
"Hi, I was wondering if a Samantha Carter has been admitted in the last month?"
"And you are?"
"Just a concerned friend. She hasn't been returning any of my calls."
"Sorry ma'am, information on our patients can only be dispersed to family members."
"What? All I'm asking is if she's there!"
"Sorry ma'am, I can not help you, have a nice day." And with that the line went dead. Frowning she re-dialled the number.
"Academy hospital, how may I help you?"
"Hi I was just wondering if Samantha Carter was there?"
"Are you family ma'am?"
"Yes, I'm her sister-in-law,"
"Very well, one moment please." As she nervously held the line, she in haled deeply when a deep voice came over the line.
"Lucy?"
"Ah, who's this?"
"It's Jack, What are you doing calling here? I told you to call me, regarding Sam!"
"I forgot, sorry Jack," sighing he shook his head.
"Yeah sure, what's wrong?"
"I was just wondering if she was still there, so I could pop by and see her." Raising his eye brows, at the woman standing in front of him, he smiled.
"Yeah sure, she's still here, I'll be around for a while yet filling in paperwork, but come on over! I'm sure she'll love to see you! Room 3405."
"Thanks Jack!" She grinned, glaring at the paper she just wrote the room number on.
"Jack?"
"I need you to do something for me Lucy," nodding she bit her bottom lip.
"Is Sammie in trouble Jack? Who was that? You called her by my name!"
"I'm not sure Lou! I really want to find out who she is. This has never happened before! No one knows Sam's been injured or is sick. They don't know anything other then she's on a mission."
"Jack," she whispered.
"Hey," he whispered hugging her tightly. "I need you to go find Xan. She'll be in her normal spot, with all the kids. Take her to the cafeteria or somewhere. Somewhere out of sight ok? Let me deal with this." Sniffling she nodded and quickly left. Sighing he looked at the man in front of him, and nodded ever so slightly.
When Emily turned up she smiled slightly, and headed straight for the room Jack had told her. Opening the door slowly and quietly, she saw someone in the bed, and a sleeping figure by the window. Moving in she looked down at the women lying in the bed. Pulling the syringe out of her pocket she lent down whispering, to her.
"Sorry honey, but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do," and she grabbed the limp hand and was about to inject the contents of the syringe, when Jack spoke up.
"If you do that I'll shoot you." Gasping she looked up to see that he wasn't sleeping at all. Instead he was sitting so still she swallowed at the gun.
"Jack?" She questioned.
"Who are you?"
"I work at Xantheia's school."
"I should have guessed." He huffed. "Doc wake up," he stated to which the brunette instantly grabbed Emily's wrist. Jumping she looked down to a smiling woman.
"Yes well, you know a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do," she stated and put the metal cuff around her wrist. Gasping Emily tried to run, but Jack grabbed her and pushed her hard against the wall, when security came in and the light was turned on.
"What do you think you were doing?"
"I, ah..."
"Isn't it obvious Jack?"
"Spell it out," he stated glaring at the woman in front of him.
"I like you, and the way Xantheia goes on its..." Raising his eye brows he struggled to contain his smirk.
"So you were going to kill Sam Carter, the mother of the angel in my life, and you think I'd turn to you for support?"
"It was worth a try," she whispered.
"I'm telling you right now! If you EVER go near Xantheia, myself, or Samantha for that matter, I WILL have you detained!"
"I work at the school I'm bound to run into Xantheia!"
"Run into yes, but follow, stalk, no!" He hissed. "I don't ever want to see you again, and if you ever try something like this again you'll be thrown in jail! Is that clear?"
"Yes," she whispered swallowing, before he moved.
"Get her out of here!" He hissed, before turning to the brunette and helping her up.
"You ok colonel?"
"Peachy doc, just flamin' peachy! Lets get Xan and Lou, and get out of here!" He sighed.
"Lou sir?" She frowned as they walked past Emily.
"Lucy, Sam's sister-in-law. Come on Janet don't tell me you've forgotten the only person in Sam's life but you who she talks to!"
"Ha, ha very funny colonel!"
"Yeah I have my moments," he smiled draping his arm around her shoulders as she leaned against him, and they walked off.
"JACK!" Xanthie called running over to him.
"Hey munchkin!"
"Auntie Lou, was just getting me something to drink! Are we going to see mum now? Can auntie Lou come? What was taking so long? Why did we have to come down here? What is auntie Jan doing here? What..."
"Hey!" He laughed. "One question at a time! Yes we're going to see mum now, no auntie Lou can not come, auntie Jan was helping me on something, ok?"
"Ok! So lets go!" She grinned grabbing his hand and pulling him to the door. Smiling he shook his head, before grabbing her around the waist, and holding her tightly.
"Doc you alright to get Lou back to the airport?"
"Yes colonel not a problem. Go show this little girl to her mother."
"Yay!" She grinned. Laughing at her they walked away.
"Since when is it auntie Jan?" He frowned. "Why just two weeks ago you hated her!"
"I didn't hate her! I just said she was mean! But we were talking when I was with auntie Lou and she seems nice. I asked if I could call her auntie too, and she said yes!" Xanthie beamed grinning at him, as he rolled his eyes and put her down, by the car.
As they got to the infirmary Jack grabbed her wrist tightly, and moved her to the only private room they had so far. Opening the door slightly he poked his head in and saw her smile tiredly at him. Nodding he looked down with a 'she's tired don't over do it' look. Nodding Xan waited and followed him in, as he let her go.
Seeing her for the first time in months Xan bit her bottom lip. Moving to the side of her mothers bed, she smiled at her, as Jack pulled a chair over and stood Xan on it, so she could reach across and hug her mother.
"I've missed you so much! But Jack's been looking after me, so I'm ok I promise!"
"That's good angel," she said gently, hugging her as tightly as she could.
"And I've been really good! And Jack helped me with my throwing and hitting and I made the school's baseball team, but coach didn't want me on there, and it took months and months and now I'm on the team and I had a little accident a few weeks ago, but I'm ok I promise!" She grinned at her mother who seemed overwhelmed.
"Hey easy on the stories for now Xan," sighing she rolled her eyes at her mother who smiled.
"Ok," she sighed, looking back at him, before at her mother once more.
"I just have to do something I'll be back in about five, you ok Carter?" He questioned nodding to Xanthie.
"Yes, sir." She smiled at him. No sooner had Jack left did Xanthie start going through everything that had happened in the last four months to both her and Jack. It took her hours and while Sam was drifting in and out of consciousness the entire time, she still managed to smile at her daughter.
"And then he said that I needed a test done to say who my dad is, and that I'll have to live with him, but I said I didn't want the test and would want Jack to adopt me instead so I can stay with him! Can Jack adopt me mum? Can he be my dad?"
"Xan," she sighed, shaking her head slightly.
"What is it? Auntie Jan's not here, should I get Jack? I'll get Jack," she stated quickly and started climbing off the bed. Stopping her by grabbing her arm Sam smiled at her.
"I'm ok, your just giving me a little headache, with all the talk about the colonel,"
"Oh, sorry," she whispered, bowing her head.
"You really like him don't you?"
"He's the best, mum! We play all the time on the weekends, when he doesn't have to be here, and he takes me for ice cream, just because the sun is out and we can walk, and every morning! And I mean EVERY morning, we go out for a little run! Well I run but Jack jogs," she giggled smiling at her mother.
"Wow! You two have been busy!" She smiled.
"Ahh! And then there is one of the ladies at the office who likes Jack, and she's really yuckie! Why can't you and Jack get together, mum?" She questioned sitting with her back to the door and not seeing Jack walk in, and freeze dead at that comment.
"Xan," she said gently in a warning tone.
"But why? I love Jack mum! I want him to be my dad! And when you come out of here, you're going to need someone to help you, and Jack can help! At home I can change my friends room around and set it up just for you!"
"At home?" She frowned.
"Yeah at home,"
"Ah, that'll be my place Carter," Jack cut in, walking over and grabbing Xan and standing her on the chair. "And what did I tell you before, huh?"
"But!"
"No but's!"
"But!"
"Xanthie," he warned gently. Sighing she nodded, and turned to her mother.
"Sorry I meant Jack's house, not at home. But if you need someone then Jack can move in with us!" She stated grinning at the idea and turning to him. "Yeah you can move in with me and mum, instead of mum moving in with you and me!" She grinned.
"And you need to settle down! Daniel's out side he'll take you to get something better to eat."
"Oh! You're no fun today Jack!" She huffed and climbed off the seat and left the room.
"Sorry Carter!"
"It's alright sir!"
"Look she has a point! And while you're still on sick leave we're, well I'm not going anywhere. It'll be my pleasure to help out! Fraiser said if you agree to some things, Xan and I can get your house fixed up and tidied and stuff tomorrow, and while she's at school on Monday I'll come get ya, and we can settle you in, before she comes home."
"Thank you sir. I really appreciate that."
"Great then its all settled!" He grinned, leaning over her he kissed her forehead. "Get well Sam, Your daughter needs you a lot more then she believes she does," and with that he left.
